Circular-knitting machine.



No. ssmsz. Patented Sept. 4, I900. B. T. STEBER.

CIRCULAR KNlTTlNG MACHINE.

(Application mad Feb. 7, 1900. (llo Model.) 5 Sheets-Shoet I.

51 woo-M601 N0. 657,!82. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

B. T. STEBER.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Shasta-Sheet 2-.

3 n02.14101- wwmm BefinardTSieber,

m: NORRIS PETER; co, PHDTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, n. c.

N0. 657,182. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

B. T. STEBER.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1900.) I Modem 5 Sheet Sheet a.

xlllllliliii 2/ N0. 657,!82. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

B. T. STEBEf i. CIRCULAR KNlTTlNG MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb; 7, 1900 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Shut 4,

x M 3 A Berna?" 71576667 No. 657,!82. Patented Sept. 4, I900. B. T.STEBER.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Shaets-Sheat 5.

mimi mum lmltflllhumunlllll UNETE TATES PATENT omen nnnnnnn 'r.s'rnnnaor UTIOA, NEW roan.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIGN forming air of Letters Patent No. 657,182, dated September4, 1900. lpplication filed February 7 1900. Serial No. 4.376. (Nomodel.)

To all 2071,0777, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, BERNARD T. STEBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the-county of Oneida and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-KnittingMachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in knitting-machines, andparticularly to circular-knitting machines which employ movable cams foroperating the needles of the said machine.

It consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a knitting-machine embodyingthe features of my invention. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged top planview of the bed-plate of the said machine, showing the cam-cylinderthereon and the mechanism for raising the needles one at a time. Fig. 3represents a side elevation of the said needleraising mechanism. Fig. atrepresents an end elevation of the same, a portion being shown insection. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the reverse side of the slide shownin Fig. 3 and illustrating the manner in which the spring is attached tothe needle-raising lever. Fig. 6 represents an elevation of the insideof my cam-cylinder, the same being preferably straightened out flat forthe purpose of illustration. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of slidesused in the cams. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 10, but showing adifferent kind of cam. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective View showing themanner of mounting one of the switches used on the cam-cylinder. Fig. 11represents a jack used for carrying a needle having a bent shank. Fig.12 shows a jack adapted to carry a needle having a straight heel. Fig.13 represents a portion of a sock which may he produced by my improvedknitting-machine. Fig. 14 represents a perspective view of a needlehaving a bent shanln Fig. 15 represents a front elevation of acamcylinder, showing the lever-actuating lugs 'upon the opposite sidesthereof arranged one higher than the other. Fig. 16 is a detail Viewshowing means for automatically depressing the needles. Fig. 17represents a similar view of the said mechanism, but taken from theopposite side thereof. Fig. 18 represents a detail sectional Viewthrough a por' tion of the cam-cylinder, further illustrating thestructure of the needle-depressing mechani'sm. Fig. 19 represents adetail view show ing a ledge used in connection with the needle-depressing dogs.

My improved knitting-machine is so constructed that a portion of theneedles em ployed therein may be thrown out of action simultaneously forchanging the shape of the fabric being produced. It is also designed toenable the operator of the machine to have a series of needlesautomatically removed from action one after the other for furtherchanging the fabric acted upon. While I may produce a number ofdifferent-shaped fabrics upon such a machine, yet it is particularlywell adapted for knitting socks or stockings, the necessary changes forcontinuously knitting the heel, foot, and toe of the stocking or sockbeing specially provided for in this mechanism. In knitting a sock orstocking the leg portion is preferably first formed, and when a properpoint is reached to begin knitting the heel a predetermined number ofneedles have to be thrown out of action for a short time. As theknitting of the heel progresses it is necessary to remove a needle outof action until onlya small number of needles are left knitting. Theseneedles are then returned into action one at a time upon each side ofthe sock until the heel is completed, when all needles are again broughtinto action for knitting the foot of the sock. When the toe of the, sockis reached, the operation is precisely the same as when knitting theheel. vention is designed to facilitate the operation of these needles,so that when beginning on the heel a large number of the needles of theknitting of the heel progresses the movement of throwing out one needleat a time maypro ceed automatically.

first upon one side and then upon the other My inmachine, say one-halfof them, may be simul-" taneously thrown out of action, and as the Incarrying out the features of my invention I preferably use aknitting-machine, as 1, of ordinary construction and one which ispreferably formed with a series of circularlyarranged needles, as 2 2,and a circular cam 7 cylinder, as 3, provided with a suitable set oftinued rotary movement.

cams for operating the same. This cylinder 3 is operated by the usualmechanism, so as to be under perfect control of the operator, and may bemoved back and forth like the balance-wheel of a watch or may have acon- The needles 2 2 preferably operate in the grooves 4 4 of aneedle-cylinder 5, the said needles being provided with heels 6 6, whichextend horizontally from the needle-cylinder to the cam-cylinder 3,where the ends of the said heels are adapted to engage a suitable cam,as 7, for producing the knitting operation.

In order to raise a predetermined number of needles at a singleoperation, I preferably arrange a segmental piece or plate, as 8, at apoint beneath the heels of the needles to be raised and between the sameand the bedplate 9 of the machine. This segment 8 is preferably securedto the upper end of the operating-rod 10, which extends downwardlythrough an aperture in the bed-plate 9 and may be pivotally secured atits lower end to a foot-lever 11, which is pivotally mounted upon theframe of the machine 1. It will thus be seen that when it is desired toraise the said needles out of action it is merely necessary to place thefoot upon the lever 11, which will cause the segment to rise beneath theheels of the needles and lift the same. The needles could of course, ifdesired, be operated automatically by any suitable cam movement. By thismechanism half of the needles in the cylinder may, if desired, be raisedout of action at once, as in producing a sock. When it is desired toreturn the needles to action, the foot is moved from the lever 11 andthe segment may be permitted to drop. The needles may thus be pusheddown by hand when desired.

After the needles have been raised by the segment 8 in knitting theheel, for instance, of a sock it is desirable to raise the nextadjoining needles successively upon each side of the machine. Toaccomplish this I prefer ably form extended supports, as 12 12, uponeach side of the bed-plate 9, the said supports being provided withdovetail grooves, as 13 13, adapted to receive the dovetail projectionsformed upon slides 14 14. Pivoted to slides 14, as at 15, are bentlevers, as 16 16, which are so shaped as to extend downwardly and alongbeneath the bed-plate 9 and then upwardly at their ends throughelongated slots or apertures 17 17, formed in the bed-plate 9. Theapertures or slots 17 17 are preferably arranged between the groovedneedle-cylinder 5 and the needle-guides 18. The slides 14 14 areprovided with limiting projectionsor lugs 19 19 for limiting the extentof movement given to the levers 16 16. In order to actuate the levers 1616, I preferably connect the same at their upper outer ends 20 20 withthe rods 21 21., which extend toward the camcylinder 3 and are providedwith lugengaging end portions 22 22, arranged in suitable proximity tothe cylinder. The end 22 of one rod is arranged in a higher plane thanthe end of the other rod, so that the two rods will not be engaged bythe same actuating-lugs. These end portions 22 22 extend each into thepath of its operating-lug, as 23 '23, one of which is located higherthan the other so that each may engage its own operating-rod and not theother one, the said lugs being formed upon and secured to the outerperiphery of the cam-cylinder. As the cam-cylinder is moved one way orthe other these lugs will engage the ends of the rods 21 and actuate thelevers 16, so as to raise their inner free ends 24 beneath the heels ofthe needles or needle-jacks to be lifted. In order to lift the needlessuccessively, it is necessary to feed the lovers 16 16 forward step bystep. To accomplish this I provide the supports 12 12 with teeth formingracks, as at 25 25, the said racks being adapted to be engaged by pawls26 and 27, secured to the slides 14 and the levers 16, respectively. Thepawls 26 are pivotally secured to the slides 14 at one end and engagethe racks 25 25 at their other ends. The pawls 27 are pivotally securedto the levers 16 at one end and at the other end are adapted to engagethe said racks 25 25. When one of the rods 21 is actuated, the slide 14is prevented from moving by means of its pawl 26, and when the lever 16is raised it draws the pawl 27 forward one notch. When the said lever 16drops again, it forces the slide 14 forward in the dovetail groove 13through the agency of the pawl 27, and thus each time the lever isoperated to raise a needle it is moved forward sufficiently to bebeneath the heel of the next needle, when it is again raised. To insurethe lever 16 returning to its normal lowered position, the said lever ispreferably provided with a stud, as 28, which extends through a slot inthe slide 14 and is connected by means of a spring, as 29, with a studor projection, as 30, on the said slide. When knitting the leg of asock, the cylinder 3 is preferably kept rotating continuously in onedirection; but when the heel is reached half of the needles, more orless, are raised out of action and the cylinder is preferably movedfirst one wayand thenthe other back and forth. In this way first aneedle upon one side is raised out of action by means of the lever 16 onthat side of the machine and then a needle on'the other side of themachine is raised in a similar manner. This back-and-forth motion iscontinued until the heel is half formed and all but a few of the needleshave been raised out of action. It is then time to begin bring? ing theneedles back into action again successively. For this. purpose Ipreferably mount upon the inner surface of the cam-cylinder 3 dogs, as31, preferably two in numher, being arranged upon the side of the cam 7.The dogs are preferably mounted upon short horizontal shafts 32, whichextend through the cam-cylinder or upon projections 33 secured theretoand have secured to their outer ends suitable weighted arms, as 34,which norm ally tend to hold the dogs 31 in such positions as to engagethe heels of the needles 2. As seen in Figs. 16 and 17 of the drawings,the free ends of the noses of the dogs are notched, as at 35, the saidnotched portion being held normally by the weighted arm 34 in a positionto receive the end of the needle-heel, as clearly seen in Fig. 17 of thedrawings. As the cain-cylinder continues its movement in one directionthe nose of the dog 30 will engage the first needle-heel which it comesin contact with and gradually depress the same because of its pivotalaction. As the resistance of the needle-heel continues the dog 31 willbe brought sidewise against the next needle-heel and into a verticalposition against the action of its weighted arm 34: and will be finallyturned over, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 17, so that the saiddog will ride on its back upon the remaining needle-heels. The dog willcontinue to ride upon the heels of the needles until the cylinder hasbeen reversed and brought back again to the gap formed in theneedle-heels by the raising of some of the needles. When the cylinder isagain reversed, the dog, being in the gap of the needle-heels, will bebrought to its position for engaging the next successive needle. It willthus be seen that upon every backand-forth movement, first on one sideand then upon the other side of the machine, the dogs will engage theheels of the needles successively upon one side and then the other ofthe machine, ending with the needles which are next to those which wereraised simultaneously at the beginning of the operation or at anydesired place. When the heel has been knitted and it is no longerdesired to have the dogs 31 in operation, they may be raised out of suchoperation and held so by means of pivoted springs 36, which are providedwith apertures 37 at their free ends, adapted to engage projections, as38, on weighted arms 34. When it is desired to bring these dogs intooperation again, it is only necessary to release the springs 36 from theweighted arms 34 and turn the said springs upwardly out of the way, asseen in Fig. 16 of the drawings. If desired, a pair of detents or slightprojections 38 38 may be formed upon the projections 33 to hold the saidsprings 36 in their raised positions. I contemplate using any desiredmeans for depressing the needles again successively upon each side ofthe cylinder, so as to return them to action. This may be done by handor by any suitable automatically-operating mechanism. I

therefore make no claim to the above-described mechanism fordepressingthe needles in the present application.

The operation of knitting the heel, foot, and

toe of a sock by the above-described mechanism may be easily followed byreference to Fig. 13 of the drawings, in which a portion of a sock isillustrated. In starting the sock the leg portion ct is first knitted,when the knitting progresses until it is desired to form the heel, sayuntil the point Z) is reached, and the next operation is to raise thesegment 8 and throw out of action about half of the needles. The levers16 16 will then be brought into operation, the slides 14 being first setat the outer ends of the racks 25. The knitting will then progress, thelevers 16 raising the needles successively out of op eration upon eachside of the machine until the knitting has progressed from the points I)and c to the point (1, at which point only about fifteen or sixteenneedles may be left in operation. At this point the levers 16 are thrownout of operation by moving the rods 21 to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the slides 14 at the same time aremoved to the outer ends of the racks 25. The dogs 31 31 are next throwninto operation and the knitting is continued until the points 6 and care reached, each needle having been successively thrown into operationso as to carry the knitting to that point. The first half of the needleswhich were simultaneously lifted out of operation are then lowered againand the knitting of all the needles progresses, as before, from thepoints I) 6, so as to form the foot portion. While the heel portion justdescribed was being knitted the cylinder was preferably being moved backand forth like the balance-wheel of a watch; but when the foot portionis reached the cylinder is preferably rotated continuously in onedirection. This operation continues until a point, as f, is reached,when it is desired to form the toe of the sock. At this point about halfof the needles are again simultaneously thrown out of operation, asbefore described wit-h respect to the heel, and the knitting continuesfrom the points 9 and h, the levers 16 having been brought intooperation and the cylinder having had its operation changed from therotary to the back -and-forth movement. This operation progresses untilthe toe has been knitted to the point g, at which point the needles aresuccessively returned to action by the dogs 31 for producing theremainder of the toe. The portion of the foot on the linefg is thenbrought to the portion of the toe at the same line and the sock iscompleted by looping together by a suitable machine or by hand.

As seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings, dogs, as 55, may be used for forcingthe needles downwardly, while similar dogs, as 56, maybe used to forcethe needles upwardly again in the place of the levers 16, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. In Fig. 6 these dogsare' illustrated as being held in their normal positions by means ofsprings 57 and 58 in place of the weighted arms, said springs beingattached at one of their ends to the cam-cylinder and at their otherends to the projections upon the shafts of the said dogs. I do not makeany claim in this application for this construction, as this operationmay be accomplished by hand, if desired, or by other automatic means.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the style of cam which I prefer to use inconnection with my knitting-machine, the same being similar to thatdescribed and claimed by me in Letters Patent No. 635,817, issuedOctober 31, 1899. This cam, it will be seen, is formed with a lowerneedle-carrying ledge, as 59,and an upper needle-carrying ledge, as 60.It is also provided with two needle-actuating portions, as at 61 62, andwith switch-blocks, as at 63, 64, and 67, so that by using long andshort heeled needles the needles may be alternately thrown out of actionwhile the intermediate needles are in action, and vice versa. This camarrangement I find very superior, especially as by it I am enabled toproduce a double ribbed fabric of more complicated mesh than the plainfabric produced by many machines, all as described in the patentabovereferred to. In order to raise the long-heeled needles to the cam path60, I preferably shorten the switch block 63 and raise the needles highenough to engage the said switch -block by means of a switch-bolt 68,which is situated in a vertical socket formed in the cam cylinder andmay be raised and lowered in any suitable man n-er as, for example, byhand by means of a suitable handle provided for this purpose. When thesaid bolt 68 is raised, it will lift the longheeled needles suificientlyto cause them to engage the switch-block 63, and when the bolt isdepressed below the surface of the cam-path 59 it will permit thelongheeled needles to pass along the same. The switch-block 64 Ipreferably arrange as seen in Fig. 6, so as to carry the short-heeledneedles upwardly-at a point in the cam-path when they have just finisheda knitting-stroke. The switch-block 65 is preferably arranged so as tocarry the long-heeled needles directly to the portion 62 of the pathwhere they will go to knitting at once. In addition to these changesover my previous construction I have further improved the cam by formingthe projection 69 with a ledge, as at 70, half the depth of saidprojection, as seen in Fig. 7, and mounted upon the said ledge thesliding switch-bolt, as 71. This switch-bolt may be operated by means ofa knob 72, secured to the outer end of the stud passing through the slot73, formed in the cam-cylinder. When all the needles are being used, itis desirable to .close the cam-path just below the switch-block 65 toreturn the short-heeled needles to the lower cam-path, and for thispurpose the switchbolt71 may be moved along its supportingledgeuntil itcloses the space below the switchblock 65. When raising the long andshort heeled needles successively out of action for producing a ribbedfabric, the bolt 71. is re- 1 states 'tracted from its forward positionand mu: pies a position as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that it forms anextension of the switch-block 65 and will guide the needles back intothe path of the cam. When the switch -block 71 is shoved forward so asto close the outlet from the upper switch-path, it is so located that anotch, as 73 in its lower surface will complete the upper contour of thelower cam-path,

forming a rounded surface at this point to smoothly guide the needles.Each of these switch blocks preferably extends through a slot formed inthe cam-cylinder 3, as clearly seen in Fig. 10 of the drawings, in whichone of the switch-blocks, say 63, is shown being mounted upon a bracket,as 73 secured to the outer periphery of the said cylinder. The block 63is provided with an elongated slot 74, and a bolt 75, secured to thebracket 73", extends through the same, being provided with a thumb-nut76, which may be used to clamp the switch-block in its inner and outerpositions.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings I have shown a form of cam such as is incommon use, so that it may be readily seen that my system ofswitch-blocks for producing double-ribbed fabric may easily be appliedto cams of various constructions and to many of the difierent kinds ofknitting-machines in'use. In this figure I have shown a diiferent styleof cam from that shown in Fig. 6 and have illustrated the manner inwhich the needles may be alternately operated by the arrangement of theswitch-block. This structure comprises a lower cam-path and an uppercampath 101, together with switch-blocks 102, 103, 104, and 105. Bypushing inwardly the switches 102 and 104v the long-heeled needles canbe taken out of action for a short period of time and returned again toactionby the switch 104. By pushing inwardly the switches 103 and 105the shortheeled needles may be taken out of action and returned againthereto after a considerable period in the same mannor as heretoforedescribed with reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings. In this instance Ialso may em ploy the sliding switch-bar 106,similar in construction andoperation to the switchbar 71. i

The main portion of the cam shown in this figure is constructedsubstantially like the principal cams in the patents to Mayo, Nos.274,208 and 319,000, and is provided with movable cam-pieces 107 and108, which are capable of being moved up or down, respectively,according to the direction in which the camring is rotating. The ends ofthe upper camblocks are also provided with yielding noses 112 and 113,inall respects similar in construction and operation to thecam-nosesillustrated in the patent to Mayo, No. 27 L208. In altering amachine provided with such cams to adapt it for use in connection withmy improved cams 63, 64, 65, and 67 I cut channels 114 and 115 throughthe upper cam-block and may retain the cam-blocks 116 and 117, which isthe device used in the Mayo machine for operating the knittingneedles asan auxiliary yarn-guide. In this device block 117 maybe lowered andfills up the depression underneath itself, when block 116 is drawnoutward and out of action. The device is also provided with otherfeatures to make the same operative in the manner described inconnection with the present invention, as will be now set forth.

As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, instead of using needles which are madewith integral heels and shanks I may employ needles carried byneedle-jacks, as '77 and 78, without departing 111 the least from thespirit of my invention. The acks 77 are designed to hold needles havmgbent heels, as 79, the said jacks having clamping-jaws, as 80, foroperating the heels of the said needles. These jacks are provided withshanks, as 81, which are adapted to proect downwardlythrough apertures82,formed in the bed-plate 9. The jacks also have heels, as 83, forengaging the operating-cams. As seen in Fig. 12 of the drawings, thejack is adapted to hold a needle 81, which is perfectly straight. I mayalso use needles made with integral heels and shanks, such as are incommon use, and preferably form the needles, which are to be raised bymeans of the levers 16, with slightly-bent shanks 85, as seen in Fig. 14and as heretofore described and claimed by me in my previous patentabove referred to. These needles bind sufficiently upon the surfaces oftheir grooves to cause them to remain in their raised or loweredpositions as they are actuated by the various parts of the machine.

As seen in Fig. 19, when needles without bent shanks are used, so thatthey do not fit snugly in their grooves, it may be desirable to form ashortledge, as 86, in proper relation to the dogs 31, so that while adog is in the operation of moving one of the needles downwardly itcannot accidentally push the next one down at the same time.

It will be evident from the description of my machine that by the use ofthe double cam-path and the switch-blocks the appearance of the mesh ofthe fabric can be altered as, for instance, from a ribbed goods to asmooth or plain goods-while by the use of the mechanism for raising someof the needles simultaneously and some of the others successively out ofoperation the form or shape of the fabric can be varied all in the onedevice.

From the above description it will be apparent that I am enabled toproduce a circular-knitting machine of superior quality and one whichcan be used in knitting fabrics of various sliapes-as, for instance, asock, producing the leg, heel, and toe portion continuously in a simpleand yet effective manner,

, parts of the operation being automatic. It

will be further seen that a machine of this character can be keptentirelyunder the control of the operator and manipulated to suit thefabric whichitis desired to produce. By using also a machine whichemploys a cam-' cylinder, as described in my Patent No. 635,817,previously referred to, I can knit a sock with the leg formed of adouble-ribbed fabric and with the heel, foot, and toe formed with aplain stitch. It will be further seen that the change can be readilyeffected from one stitch to the other and also that yarns ofv differentdegrees of coarseness or fineness and of diiferent colors may be used atany desired point in the fabric.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a knitting-machine, the combinationof reciprocating needles having comparatively-long heels, means formovably supporting the same, a traveling cam for reciprocating the saidneedles, and means for engaging the operating-heels of the needlesintermediate their lengths for throwing a predetermined number of saidneedles out of the path of the cam simultaneously,substantially asdescribed.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cam, of aseries of reciprocating needles having comparatively-long heels adaptedto be operated by said cam, means for engaging the operating-heels ofthe needles for throwing a predetermined number of the said needlessimultaneously out of the path of the cam comprising a movable pieceadapted to engage the heels of the needles at an intermediate pointbetween their shanks and the ends of the heels, and means for movingsaid movable piece, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting-machine the combination with a rotating actuatingcam-cylinder, of a series of needles adapted to be actuated thereby,means for directly engaging the operating-heels of said needles forraising a predetermined number of the same above the path of the cam andthereby throwing them out of operation simultaneously, the said meanscomprising a horizontal piece independent of the cam-cylinder andadapted to extend beneath and engage the under sides of the heels of thesaid needles at a point between the ends of the said heels and theshanks of the needles, and means for raising or lowering the same,substantially as described.

4. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination of a needle-cylinder,a cam-cylinder carrying cams for engaging the heels of the said needlesto operate them, means for en gaging the actuating-heels of said needlesfor raising a number of the said needles simultaneously so as to be outof the path of the cam comprising a segmental piece inde pendent of themoving cam-cylinder and arranged between the needle-cylinder and the ICOsaid cam-cylinder, a rod carrying the said piece and extendingdownwardly through the bed-plate to a point in suitable proximity to thefloor, a foot-treadle for operating the said rod, the construction beingsuch that by placing the foot upon the said treadle a number of theneedles may be raised out of operation, substantially as described.

means independent of the cam for engaging the working heels of theneedles inside the cam-cylinder and between their shanks and their outerguided ends for raising the needles out of reach of the cam, first oneupon one side and then one upon the other side of the machinesuccessively until the desired number of needles have been thrown out ofaction, and meansfor returning them into action again, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a movable cam,of a seriesof reciprocating needles adapted to be operated thereby, meansindependent of the cam for engaging the guided heels of the needlesintermediate their length for raising a predetermined number of the saidneedles simultaneously out of the path of the cam, and means independentof the said cam for raising other needles out of action, one at a time,first upon one side of the machine'and then one'upon the other side ofthe machine for altering the shape of the fabric being knitted,substantially as described.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cam-cylinder,of a series of reciprocating needles adapted to be operated thereby,means for engaging the heels of said needles between their shanks andtheir outer guided ends for raising some of the said needles out ofreach of the cam, one at a time, comprising a lever adapted to extendinteriorly of the cam-cylinder and to engage the heels of the saidneedles from beneath so as to liftthem, and means for operating the saidlever, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cam-cylinder,of reciprocating needles having heels engaging the said cam-cylinder,means for raising a series of the said needles out of action, one at atime, comprising a pivoted lever, the free end of which is adapted to'engage the ends of the needles, a rod connected with said lever at oneend and adapted to be struck by a projection on the cam-cylinder at theother end for operating said lever and raising the nee-t dles,substantially as described.

9. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cam-cylinder,of reciprocating needles having heels for engaging the camcylinder,means for-raising some of the said needles, one at a time, comprising apivoted lover, a slide carrying the said lever, a rod for actuating thesaid lever, a rack mounted upon the bed-plate of the machine, and pawlsupon the said lever, a slide for feeding the lever forward with astep-by-step movement so as to bring its free end under the heels of thesuccessive needles, whereby the knitting of the fabric may be varied asdesired, substantially as described.

10. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cam-cylinder,of a series of reciprocating needles having horizontal heels engagingthe said cam-cylinder, means for raising some of the said needlessuccessively out of action, comprising a lever and slide pivotallycarrying the same, a rod connected with said lever and extending intothe path of a projection on the cam-cylinder, limitinglugs on the saidslide for determining the extent of movement of the said lever, a rackmounted on the bed-plate of the machine, a pawl on the said slide forholding the slide from slipping away from the machine, a pawl upon thesaid lever also.engaging the said rack for feeding the carriage forwardone step upon each movement of the lever, and a spring for holding thelever normally in its lowered position, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cam-cylinder,of needles adapted to be operated thereby, means for raising needlesout of action, first upon one side of the machine and then upon theother side of the machine successively, comprising pivoted levers havingtheir free ends extending up through slots in the bed-plate of themachine so as to be beneath the heels of the needles, actuating-rodspivoted to the said levers and projeetin g into the path of lugs uponthe camcylinder, the construction being such that upon rotating thecylinder in first one direction and then the other the levers will bealternately actuated, and means for feeding the levers forward with astep-by-step movement to bring their alternating ends beneath the heelsof successive needles upon each side of the machine, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotating cylinder, ofa cam mounted thereon for actuating the needles of the machine, the saidcam comprising upper and lower paths for engaging the heels of the needles, switches mounted upon the cylinder and adapted to engage the endsof the needles to raise some of the needles out of operation while theothers are knitting and to return the said inactive needles to operationwhile the others are raised out of operation, whereby a ribbed fabric isproduced, and means extending upward interiorly of the cylinder andengaging the heels of the operating-needles intermediate their lengthfor raising some of the needles out of operation simultaneously, andsome of the needles out of operation successively, one at a time, foraltering the shape of the fabric and without interfering with theoperative mechanism of the machine, substantially as described.

13. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a series of reciprocatingneedles, a needle cylinder directing the shanks of said needles and aguide cage or cylinder for directing the ends of the needle-heels and acam engaging the ends of their heels for operating the same,

the said cani comprising upper and lower paths and switches fordirecting the needles to each, whereby the mesh of the fabric knittedmay be varied, and means for engaging the heels of the needles betweenthe needlecylinder and the guide cage or cylinder located near theirouter ends for raising some of the needles simultaneously out of action,and some of the needles successively out of action for varying the formof the fabric knitted, substantially as described.

14. In a knitting-m achine, the combination with reciprocating needlesof a cam-cylinder for actuating the same, some of the needles havinglong heels and some short heels, the said cam having an upper and alower campath, switches extending through the side of the cylinder, someof the said switches extending far enough to engage the long-heeledneedles, and some of the switches extending in sufliciently far toengage the short-heel needles, a switch-bolt for raising the longheeledneedles for engaging the first switchblock, a sliding switch-bolt forclosing the cam-path when all the needles are knitting, the structurebeing such that the needles may be operated alternately or all togetherfor producing a ribbed or a plain fabric, and 1 means for raising someof the needles entirely out of operation simultaneously, and means forraising some of the needles out of operation successively, whereby theform of the fabric knitted may be varied, substantially as described.

15. Aknitting-niachine, coinprisinga series of reciprocating needles, arevoluble cam-cylinder having cains thereon for engaging the saidneedles, means for raising some of the said needles successively toremove them from action, comprising levers, operatingrods connected Withsaid levers, the outer ends of the said operating-rods being arrangedone in a higher plane than the other, actuating-lugs mounted upon thecam-cylinder, one higher than the other, to engage the ends of the saidoperating-rods, the construction being such that each lug will onlyengage its own operatingrod and will not affect the other as thecylinder is rotated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

BERNARD 'l. STEBER.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY A. STEBER, JOHN KRUSE.

